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If one of the prerequisites for becoming an assistant general manager includes being able to do virtually anything for the organization, the Calgary Flames made two great hires Friday.

After all, in a pinch, both Craig Conroy and Brad Pascall could even jump into the lineup if necessary.

As a matter of fact, Pascall did exactly that when Team Canada found itself shorthanded at the world championships in 2003. While waiting in vain for several players to arrive in Latvia after the first round of the NHL playoffs, Pascall, who was a 32-year-old director of communications for Hockey Canada at the time, was asked to practise with the team even though the last time the former minor leaguer played hockey was in the East Coast league eight years earlier.

“I was a little stiff,” laughed Pascall, 43 who was as shocked as anyone when coach Andy Murray subsequently asked him to dress for a pre-tournament game on a line alongside Shane Doan and Anson Carter.

“I hope it doesn’t come down to that here. I think I’m retired.”

Insisting he only played a few shifts, that didn’t stop teammates like Kris Draper, Dany Heatley and Ryan Smyth from chanting “Rudy, Rudy,” when he hit the ice.

A Conroy appearance with the big club wouldn’t be so far-fetched as the 42-year-old only hung ’em up three years ago.

“I think we have Gelly (assistant coach Martin Gelinas) for that,” said Conroy, who finally gets a defined role with the club following years as a special assistant to the GM who travelled extensively getting his feet wet in various roles.

“Actually, I think we won every game with the alumni I played against Gelly, so ya, I could come out ahead of Gelly. I’ve got to start training though — sitting behind a desk is not helping me.”

It sure has helped Conroy as he’s more than ready and qualified for a role that will see him travel even more to see players, according to GM Brad Treliving, who confirmed Conroy never sought the new title but was awarded it on merit.

“It wasn’t a popularity contest — Craig is a star in the making,” Treliving said.

“Both have deep contact bases and bring a youthful energy to this club as we move forward.”

Pascall has lived in Calgary since ’98, where he has ascended the Hockey Canada ranks to the point he was VP of hockey operations and national teams. Married to Cassie Campbell-Pascall and son of legendary broadcaster Bernie Pascall, it was only a matter of time before the North Dakota grad drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the fifth round of the ’90 NHL draft (ahead of Peter Bondra) was snapped up by an NHL team.

As Treliving said, several of the big-wigs around the NHL he asked about Pascall said they also had designs on hiring him one day due to his wealth of experience and contacts.

“I’ve had the opportunity to work with people like Steve Yzerman and Doug Armstrong and Ken Holland and Wayne Gretzky, and I’ve learned so much from them,” said Pascall, who played a big role in the management team that won three straight world junior golds as well as the Olympic gold in Sochi.

“I know the players well, and from a Hockey Canada standpoint, we’re all about developing players like at the under-17’s and under-18’s and world juniors. So I have a background of player development and winning.”

Treliving said Conroy will largely be out in the field, while Pascall will be very involved in player development and overseeing the Flames’ new AHL affiliate in Adirondack.

Treliving also announced senior VP Michael Holditch will continue his longtime role as capologist for the club, while former player Troy Crowder has been added to help Ron Sutter with player development.